A high-profile sexual assault case involving members of Cornell University’s Chi Phi fraternity continues to unfold amid conflicting narratives and ongoing investigations. The case centers on allegations made by a woman identified as Jane Doe, who claims she was gang-raped by seven fraternity brothers during an encounter at the fraternity house in Ithaca, New York, in October 2024.
Matthew Ingalls, one of the seven accused fraternity members, has emerged as a central figure in the case. According to campus police records and audio recordings obtained by news outlets, Ingalls contends that he was too intoxicated to consent to sex that night and has suggested that Doe was actually the aggressor. In a recorded phone conversation about a week after the incident, Ingalls asserted that Doe told him she was sober at the time of their interaction, a claim she denies. Doe maintains she was heavily intoxicated, having consumed alcohol and ketamine, which she alleges impaired her ability to consent. She also described Ingalls as the person who initially invited her to the fraternity house and proposed a threesome, which according to her lawsuit, escalated into multiple fraternity members engaging in sexual acts with her.
The fraternity’s internal communications, including a Snapchat group chat, feature messages encouraging other members to join the sexual activity, which amplifies the severity of the allegations. Doe’s lawsuit alleges that the fraternity brothers deliberately supplied her with drugs and alcohol, rendering her incapacitated. However, no criminal charges have been filed against any of the accused men. The Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten declined to press charges in 2024, citing a lack of evidence that the encounter was non-consensual. Complications in pursuing criminal charges stem in part from New York state law that limits claims of incapacity when the accuser voluntarily ingests intoxicants.
Cornell University conducted its own disciplinary proceedings, resulting in varying sanctions for the accused. Both Ingalls and Jonathan Newell were expelled after being found responsible for sexual assault by an internal panel. Newell was also found to have manipulated Doe into using ketamine and inflicted bruising during sexual activity. Other members received suspensions ranging from two years to several semesters and were required to complete educational programs on sexual harassment and submit reflective essays. One member who had graduated before the panel’s findings was barred from campus for three years. These disciplinary measures contrast with claims in Doe’s civil lawsuit that the fraternity members faced minimal consequences.
The case attracted renewed attention following Doe’s civil suit filed in September 2026, which included additional allegations and named all seven accused men. The investigation has also come under scrutiny concerning the impartiality of prosecutors. New York Attorney General Letitia James was appointed as a special prosecutor after the local district attorney’s decision not to pursue charges. Prior to her appointment, James publicly expressed sympathy for the accuser, prompting calls from the defense attorney for Gillio Lopes, one of the fraternity members, for her to recuse herself due to perceived bias. James has dismissed concerns over her objectivity and pledged that the ongoing investigation will be based strictly on facts and law.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the fraternity house where the alleged assault took place has been described in recently disclosed video footage. The room, reportedly known as the Alumni Room, was shown filled with disarray, reflecting a chaotic environment on the night of the incident. Cornell University, the district attorney’s office, and the special prosecutor’s office continue their involvement as the civil and investigative processes proceed. The accused men have denied all allegations of rape, and no criminal charges have yet been filed.